College Application Essays

I earned curious glances as I carried my violin up a slight incline towards the shop at the street corner. When I arrived at the cozy building, my breath was released in light, exaggerated puffs before it calmed, allowing me to absorb the exotic aroma of the café: the scent of mid-day coffee lingered in the air amidst the constant click, clack of keyboards. As customers started clapping, I was prodded by a wooden bow. It was my duet partner...

Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay

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I wrote this for schools that required it. I cited the different programs and extracurricular activities I would like to do.

Additional Essay Details:

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I wrote about music because it was a big part of my application. I figured colleges wanted to know more about why I stuck with music for so long, so this was where I finally got to show them. There were several different essay topics on Common App, but I chose the one relating to a place where I am content: in music. Although music isn't generally considered a place, it was a place in my mind. And it was...

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College Admissions Advice

Most popular extracurricular activities at my college

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The most popular activities at any school include student government, fraternities (professional or not), philanthropic...

My favorite course thus far, and why

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Comparative Literature R1B.
This is a second-year required English course. However, I am a quantitative person. My favorite course wasn't Computer Science 61A (Structures and Interpretations of Programs, the first required course for Computer Science majors) or linear algebra. It wasn't...

5 adjectives that describe a typical student at my school (Feel free to elaborate!)

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Independent. Ambitious. Talented. Thoughtful. Human.
College is different than high school. People generally are starting to realize...

What I now know about my school that I never would have known prior to enrolling

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I lived in the Bay Area pretty much since elementary school.
I was ridiculously familiar with UC Berkeley even before I came here. All my classmates were similarly familiar with the school. Many...

What I’d change about my application process

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If I had to change something, I'd spend more time writing...

Whether I used a private admissions counselor, and advice I received

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Nope, I never used a private counselor. My best advice was simple: be yourself, and don't cheat.
Don't sell yourself as someone you're not, because you should be valued...

List of schools I interviewed with and my interview experience

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Like most of the college admission process, just be yourself. Say the truth. Take time to think before answering the question if you...

Recommended summer activities during high school and college

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High school:
Sometimes, internships and jobs are hard to come by as high schoolers. Just, don't waste your summer. Contact teachers or local college professors and...

What set me apart from other applicants

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I think my multicultural background, activities, and personality set me apart.
Sure, I had interests in music and art and volunteering and student government, but so do a...

Why I declined other schools

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I was admitted to all UCs I applied to, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern.
I primarily looked at UC Berkeley and Penn, although I did consider UCLA and Northwestern to some extent.
To decide, I looked at things that were important to me, including location, prestige according to major, and campus climate.
I actually wanted to travel far from home, so Penn seemed like the perfect choice. However, Philadelphia was not my ideal college city, travel expenses would be expensive on top of the tuition fees, and my parents actually...

How I chose schools to apply to

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I applied to many of the UCs because it was in one application and I didn't have to write additional essays. I applied to some privates, both reach...

Reaching out to professors and coaches at schools I applied to

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I didn't think it was necessary, and my friends did not either. Sports coaches...

Additional material sent in after waitlisted or deferred

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I was waitlisted at Harvard and MIT. Of course, they did not take very many people off a long...

How to increase chances at my school

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I would focus more on the essay and activities instead of just my grade...

My advice about getting recommenders

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Let me state the obvious first. Get people who really know you...and like you, of course, to write your recommendations.
If you don't have a teacher or coach...

My extracurricular activities in college, and why I chose them

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You do the extracurricular that you do for multiple reasons. But if you stuck with it, ask yourself why. Why didn't you quit when things got rough? Why are you passionate...

What I like about my school’s location and culture

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1. The weather is always cool, but not hot here.
2. Everyone is open! (Which is a good byproduct of the diversity here at Berkeley.)
3. It's never boring. After spending more than half my life here, I still find that I have things to explore.
4. Amazing professors! Come on, guys. The Bay Area is a great place to live. And professors are also attracted by this...

Why I ultimately chose my school

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In short, kind of unhelpful words, I chose UC Berkeley because I rejected other schools. But...